I am committed to tell stories of Palestinians: New Zealander professor

TEHRAN - “I feel personal commitment to tell the stories of Palestinians in the West Bank where I taught voluntarily a few times,” Chris Galloway, a professor from Massey University in New Zealand, told the Tehran Times on the sidelines of the Quds Day rallies in Tehran on Friday.

A mass rally took place in the streets of Tehran and many other cities across Iran in support of the oppressed people of Palestine on Quds Day on Friday.

Hugh crowds chanted slogans against Israel and arrogant power and held placards reading: “We Stand United [with Palestinians]”, “We Stand Up to the End”, “Palestine Is an Inseparable Part of the World of Islam”, etc.

Although Iran’s nuclear negotiation with the six world powers is going through its final stages in Vienna, Iranian demonstrators didn’t hesitate a minute to soften their slogans of “Down with the USA.”

Chris Galloway, who had come to Iran at the invitation of municipality to conduct a few workshops in management, was among the crowd.

Galloway had firsthand experience in Gaza. He had been to the West Bank five times and done some volunteer teachings where he saw and learned much from his students about the occupation.

Galloway feels that he has personal commitment to the people of Palestine to tell their stories. “There were stories to be told and heard in the West Bank,” he said.

Ezzatollah Zarghami, the former head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), was also among the demonstrators. He said that Quds Day stands as a final trial for those who claim to support human rights, be it Western countries, Islamic countries or human right advocates.

Quds Day means defending the oppressed people whose lands have been occupied and live in worst condition, Zarghami said, adding that today anti-Zionism symbolizes the fight against the Zionist in Gaza.

Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel, a senior Iranian MP, also attended the rally and the Tehran Times got to speak to him as well. Haddad-Adel said Quds Day is a reminder to all the Muslims worldwide lest forget the Palestinians issue.

He said that the day is an opportunity to reveal Israelis crimes, to introduce all aspects of Islam to the world, a day of combating oppression and supporting oppressed, an also a day that a common pain can be the basis of unity.

If it weren’t for Quds Day, Haddad-Adel said Israeli forces could have already defeated the Lebanese and Palestinian resistance groups.
“The Quds Day has inspired the Palestinians to stand against Israel.”

The Tehran Times was able to interview MP Ali Motahari on the sidelines of the Quds Day march. Motahari said the day was a very good initiative by Imam Khomeini to keep the Palestinian cause alive.

Since the beginning of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Motahari said, the Muslims’ resistance against the occupying regime of Israel has increased.

Today, Israel is far weaker than it was 40 years ago, Motahari added.

It used to be that Israelis attack and invade Islamic countries, but today they are limited to their fake border and this is considered a “victory” for Muslims including Palestinians in the region, the parliamentarian said.

Motahari said that Palestinian issue is a humanitarian issue before it is an Islamic matter.

In addition, the Palestinian land is under occupation and everyone is liable to rush to their help, Motahari concluded.